The Czech current account swung back into a surplus of CZK 9bn (EUR 328mn) in May 2014 from a deficit of CZK 11.4bn the month before, data from the central bank showed. The improvement reflects surpluses on the balance of goods and services and current transfers and a narrower gap on the income account. The reading contrasted with market expectations for a deficit of CZK 9bn.
The trade surplus shrank by 15.4% m/m to CZK 20.2bn and the surplus in the services account narrowed by 7.1% m/m to CZK 5.5bn in May. The income balance ran a deficit of CZK 22.9bn in May, much smaller than the CZK 51.1bn gap in the previous month. Dividends totalling CZK 13bn were paid in May, the central bank said. The balance of current transfers included a surplus of CZK 8.3bn on transfers from the EU budget to the Czech Republic.
On an annual basis, the Czech current account also improved as in May 2013 it posted a deficit of CZK 11.7bn. The 12-month rolling surplus stood at CZK 8.2bn, equalling to 0.2% of the full-year GDP forecast, according to IntelliNews calculations.
According to the finance ministry’s April macroeconomic forecast, the current account deficit should narrow to 0.4% of GDP in 2014 from 1.4% the year before.
| Balance of Payments (CZK mn) | |||||||
| Jan/14 | Feb/14 | March/14 | April/14 | May/14 | Jan-May/14 | May/13 | |
| I Current Account | 26 010 | 22 599 | 23 660 | -11 424 | 8 960 | 69 805 | -11 746 |
| A. Trade balance | 20 828 | 20 166 | 31 194 | 23 882 | 20 213 | 116 282 | 19 748 |
| B. Balance of services | 6 531 | 7 011 | 6 531 | 5 869 | 5 454 | 31 397 | 3 989 |
| C. Income balance | -5 761 | -7 217 | -11 991 | -51 074 | -22 861 | -98 904 | -30 688 |
| D. Current transfers | 4 413 | 2 639 | -2 074 | 9 898 | 6 153 | 21 029 | -4 796 |
| II Capital Account | 38 | 91 | 21 232 | 24 | 14 | 21 399 | 51 |
| III Financial Account | -17 385 | -21 242 | -27 194 | 26 373 | 10 968 | -28 479 | 21 472 |
| Source: Czech central bank |
Related Articles
Eurozone manufacturing growth hits four-year high in April but Middle East war drives record price surge
Eurozone manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in nearly four years in April as factories rushed to build safety stocks ahead of expected price rises and supply shortages linked to the ... more
Fears grow of Russian interference in Central European media space
Two thirds of Central Europeans are concerned about Russian interference in their country’s media or public opinion, according to a new poll conducted by MEDIAN on behalf of the ... more
Four Czechs on Kyrgyzstan skiing holiday killed in avalanches
Four Czech citizens on a skiing holiday were killed in avalanches that occurred in Kyrgyzstan's northern district of Ak-Suu over the weekend, according to the Issyk-Kul regional police department. ... more